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Finally, the fantastic trailer for the new Johnny Depp and Tim Burton collaboration is out as a precursor to this summer’s highly-anticipated release of the remake of the classic vampire soap and cult favorite, Dark Shadows! This concept is to different from the original television soap opera version, that it may be a tweak many Dark Shadows enthusiasts. Here is the set-up: The year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet—or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine.

The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin.

The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) has called upon live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), to help with her family troubles. Also residing in the manor is Elizabeth’s ne’er-do-well brother, Roger Collins, (Jonny Lee Miller); her rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Moretz); and Roger’s precocious 10-year-old son, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath). The mystery extends beyond the family, to caretaker Willie Loomis, played by Jackie Earle Haley, and David’s new nanny, Victoria Winters, played by Bella Heathcote.

This is sickening and a slap in the face to the legacy of Dan Curtis. Michael, if you think this is fantastic, you probably think that an OLTL movie musical with Nikki Smith singing “I’ve Got to Be Me” would be out of this world. This is disrespectful and the original cast members who have cameos in the film should be ashamed of themselves. A crap sandwich from Depp and Burton who only make movies these days just to amuse themselves.

Jim, I have to admit you are funny,the thought of nikki smith singing “ive got to be me”IN a one life to live movie musical is hysterical ,at least it would be better them never seeing my favorite characters of landview again.I miss erika slezak.and One life to live. I agree with you about depp and burton.

oh, thank you! I’m not alone! I absolutely loved the original Dark Shadows and the DS movies… all that dark, moody seriousness, the older, mature actors, and the music was one of the main characters… I sometimes like Johnny Depp but know from other movies of the Burton/Depp marriage that those 2 haven’t grown up – they love to go overboard, more blood splurting, more makeup, more overacting, silly eyeballs jumping out…. they think it’s funny. I do not want to see MY dark shadows ruined like that. It was bad enough when they tried to “remake” the series many years ago (with Ben Cross) and they modernized it and sexed it up — oh, it was horrible! just ruined it! If I’m going to spend (what are movie prices now?) what $10 to see one of favorites I spent years glued to, it better be as good as the original!

I’ve talked myself out of seeing it! That and this preview – Superfly music? yuk! He’s got way more makeup on than he should. TV? I don’t remember there ever being a TV at Collinswood… where’s the fog? where’s the waves crashing against the rocks? where’s the serious actors? where’s the dark spooky house filled with moody relatives and a time travel room downstairs, and I want David Selby! and Jonathon Frid! and Lara Parker!

gees… I’ll wait for a discount dvd! in the meantime, think I’ll look for those original Dark Shadows on DVD and the movies too. Those are the best and can’t ever be remade!

david replied March 19th, 2012 at 11:34 pm

If a OLTL movie musical had Erika Slezak playing Niki, it wouldn’t be as bad as Depp playing Collins.

I agree with Lew. Tough to know what to say about this. I was a super fan of Dark Shadows back in the day. I am also a huge fan of Johnny Depp. It looks amusing, but I am not sure if I will like it. Seems to make a joke out of an old, campy soap. Remains to be seen……….

I don’t think it has to do with growing up, but just loving something from the past and wanting to remember it that way. I would feel the same if they tried to remake Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon or Sophie’s Choice as parodies. Yes, DS was campy, but it was also gothic and had great film and stage-trained actors who made it great and entertaining.

Im with you lew.NO one could replace HUMPHERY BOGART,ever.And dark shadows should have been left alone ,Wont say I will never watch it ,I will on dvd.Dont forget all the Idiots who tried to remake the wizard of oz,judy garland will forever be dorothy gale.

well – i remember running home from school to watch dark shawdows – i loved that show & i am also a fan of johnny depp BUT after viewing the trailer i am just not feeling this movie…………… i will go see it though…..

DS 2012 is obviously geared to the present audience; remakes make me nauseous–The Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched, and The Honeymooners–three examples of remakes that you couldn’t pay me to watch. I’ll reserve comment on DS 2012 until the dvd or streaming versions come out. I don’t think it’s worth the price of admission.

I would never pay to see this either. Dark Shadows ceased original broadcasts more than 40 years ago. The film is directed toward a younger audience who never saw the original and can’t make comparisons (or they would be nauseated too).

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Video of the Day

The Young and the Restless is gearing up for its 45th anniversary the week of March 26th, with this blast from the past look featuring several of former cast members who are making a return. Check it out below via these retro clips, and let us know who you are looking forward to seeing back in GC? Leave a comment »